US 11,940,559 B2
Light detection and range (LIDAR) device with component stacking for coaxial readout without splitter mirror for autonomous driving vehicles
Tianjia Sun, Sunnyvale, CA (US); Yaoming Shen, Sunnyvale, CA (US); Xiangfei Zhou, Sunnyvale, CA (US); and Yang Han, Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Assigned to BAIDU USA LLC, Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Filed by Baidu USA LLC, Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 11, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/216,780.
Prior Publication US 2020/0182972 A1, Jun. 11, 2020
Int. Cl. G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01)
CPC G01S 7/4812 (2013.01) [G01S 17/931 (2020.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A light detection and range (LIDAR) device utilized in an autonomous driving vehicle, the LIDAR device comprising:
an array of light transmitting and receiving (TX/RX) units arranged to sense a physical range associated with a target, wherein each of the light TX/RX units comprises:
a mounting board having a light pass-through opening,
a light emitter mounted on the mounting board adjacent to the light pass-through opening, wherein the mounting board is a printed circuit board (PCB) including a circuitry coupling the light emitter to a LIDAR controller, wherein the light emitter is configured to emit a light beam towards the target according to a light transmitting path,
a light detector positioned behind the mounting board to receive at least a portion of the light beam reflected from the target through the light pass-through opening according to a light receiving path, wherein the light transmitting path and the light receiving path are substantially in parallel and close to each other,
a first collimating lens to diverge the light beam from the light emitter towards to the target, and to receive and focus a reflected light beam to pass through the light pass-through opening,
a second collimating lens, and
a third collimating lens, wherein the first collimating lens is disposed between the mounting board and the target, wherein the mounting board is positioned behind the first collimating lens, wherein the second collimating lens positioned behind the mounting board, wherein the third collimating lens is positioned behind the second collimating lens, and wherein the light detector is positioned behind the third collimating lens.